Firearms Compliance

Federal Firearms Law

All transactions on GCX are subject to the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA), as amended, and regulations promulgated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). GCX requires all sellers to be licensed FFLs in good standing and all transfers to comply with federal law.

Key federal requirements applicable to GCX transactions:

• FFL-to-FFL transfers: All firearms must ship from a licensed dealer to a licensed dealer. No shipments to unlicensed individuals.
• ATF Form 4473: Every buyer must complete Form 4473 (Firearms Transaction Record) at the receiving FFL before taking possession of any firearm.
• NICS Background Check: The receiving FFL must initiate a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check before transferring the firearm. No transfer may proceed if the check returns a denial.
• Age requirements: Buyers must be at least 21 years of age to purchase handguns and at least 18 years of age to purchase rifles and shotguns.
• Prohibited persons: GCX prohibits transactions with persons prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), including convicted felons, domestic violence offenders, and others listed in federal law.

FFL Verification

GCX verifies the active status of all selling and receiving FFLs before processing any transaction. Verification uses ATF’s Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) database and occurs at the time of transaction initiation. No transaction proceeds if either FFL’s license cannot be confirmed as current and active.

FFL verification is recorded on every transaction record maintained by GCX. Sellers whose FFL expires or is revoked are immediately suspended from active listings until their license status is restored.

State and Local Law

Firearms laws vary significantly by state and locality. GCX applies known state-level restrictions to listings where possible, but buyers and sellers bear final responsibility for compliance with all applicable state and local laws governing the purchase, transfer, and possession of firearms in their jurisdictions.

GCX may decline to facilitate transactions where known legal restrictions prevent compliant transfer. This includes, but is not limited to, states with waiting periods, assault weapon restrictions, magazine capacity limits, or handgun roster requirements. GCX does not provide legal advice; consult an attorney with questions about the law in your jurisdiction.

Prohibited Items

The following are not permitted on GCX:

• Unregistered NFA items (short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, machine guns, suppressors, destructive devices, AOW) unless properly registered and all NFA transfer requirements are satisfied
• Stolen firearms
• Firearms with obliterated, altered, or removed serial numbers
• Firearms prohibited from civilian ownership under federal or applicable state law
• Items intended to convert a semi-automatic firearm to fire automatically

Reporting Compliance Concerns

If you observe or suspect a transaction, listing, or user activity that may violate federal, state, or GCX compliance requirements, report it immediately via the GCX compliance contact page. GCX will investigate all reports and cooperate fully with law enforcement where required.

GCX Compliance Program

GCX maintains an internal compliance program that includes regular review of seller FFL status, transaction pattern monitoring for unusual activity, cooperation with ATF and other law enforcement agencies, and ongoing training of GCX personnel on applicable firearms law. GCX’s compliance policies are reviewed and updated as laws and regulations change.